Myesha Watkins
Administrator, Office of Violence Prevention, Cuyahoga County
Myesha Watkins is a licensed social worker, youth development professional, and violence prevention expert. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Cleveland State University, followed by a certificate from Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management in 2021. She recently graduated from the inaugural cohort of the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy, with the historic ceremony hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Myesha was appointed to serve as the first Administrator of the Cuyahoga County Office of Violence Prevention, with her tenure beginning in August 2025. She is a proud graduate of Leadership Cleveland, Class of 2025, and was recently honored by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Cleveland Chapter, as a SHE Leads 2025 award recipient.
She currently serves as the Executive Director of Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, an organization committed to providing community-led prevention, intervention, and restoration services to those most impacted by gun violence. In 2021, she was selected to serve on Mayor-elect Justin Bibb’s transition team and public safety committee. A recognized thought leader, Myesha works closely with city and county governments, as well as surrounding suburbs, to educate and address the root causes of community gun violence.
In 2022, her work in violence prevention was recognized by President Joe Biden, who invited her to the White House. She was also honored in the 15th Edition of Who’s Who in Black Cleveland as one of the most influential people in the city. Myesha continues to use her platform to inspire positive change in Black communities.
She is the founder of Counseling for the Culture (C4TC), a private practice offering individual counseling, group therapy, and trauma-informed training for organizations and systems. She also hosts Healing with my Homegirls every fourth Wednesday in collaboration with Ghetto Therapy, which provides free group therapy sessions every week.
Myesha is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a graduate of John Marshall High School, and the devoted mother of two beautiful daughters, Elle and Cori Crowe. A lifelong Clevelander, she is committed to healing, justice, and community transformation.